Researchers
at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are seeking volunteers
recently treated for breast cancer who may be experiencing cognitive
difficulties, a condition often referred to as “chemo brain.”

The pilot study aims to develop and evaluate a rehabilitation program
for breast cancer survivors who believe they are having trouble
thinking and concentrating after receiving treatment. Study volunteers
will be asked to come to UCLA for a 90-minute initial baseline visit,
then return once a week for six weeks to participate in two- to
three-hour group intervention sessions. Volunteers will need to return
to UCLA for one-hour follow-up visits two months and six months after
the intervention.

‘Women with ‘chemo brain’ often can’t focus, remember things or
multitask the way they did before their breast cancer treatments. They
can be overwhelmed with day-to-day life,” said Dr. Patricia Ganz,
director of cancer prevention and control research at UCLA’s Jonsson
Comprehensive Cancer Center and principal investigator of the study.
“They can’t recall phone numbers or where they put their keys. The
group intervention program is designed to address these concerns, to
provide tools and techniques to aid with memory and focus.”
Ganz and her team are seeking 25 volunteers to participate in the
study, which is funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

To find out more about the study, call (310) 825-2520.

UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has more than 240
researchers and clinicians engaged in disease research, prevention,
detection, control, treatment and education. One of the nation’s
largest comprehensive cancer centers, the Jonsson center is dedicated
to promoting research and translating basic science into leading-edge
clinical studies. In July 2009, the Jonsson Cancer Center was named
among the top 12 cancer centers nationwide by U.S. News & World
Report, a ranking it has held for 10 consecutive years. For more
information on the Jonsson Cancer Center, visit our website at http://www.cancer.ucla.edu.

VABION Launches New
Chemo Brain eBook Guide

PRLog (Press
Release) – May 14, 2009 – For_Immediate_
Release

United States of America (News Release) May 14- Richmond, VA
based
VABION LLC (VABION)

VABION LLC (VABION) announced today that that VABION chief executive
and chief scientist Susan Hardwicke, Ph.D. has completed an eBook on
chemo brain, and that the book is now available online. Dr.
Hardwicke is a specialist in cognitive skills and neuro-nutrition
whose experience in recovering from chemo brain inspired the creation
of a program designed to help consumers and professionals. Chemo
Brain and Recovery: A Guide to Survival presents the program.
“While many in the research community debate about how to measure
the effects of chemotherapy on the brain, many thousands of cancer
survivors are suffering from chemo brain impairment,”
said Dr. Hardwicke. “I know: I was one of them,” she
continued.
Chemo brain symptoms range from memory impairment, attention and focus
problems, language difficulties, slower processing speed, and motor
control. Many patients with chemo brain report feeling as though
they are in a fog and cannot clear it. According to Dr.
Hardwicke, who has examined brainwaves on electroencephalograph (EEG)
systems, the fog has a measurable correlate in higher slow wave
activity and reduced alert states. The difficulties
associated with chemo brain can be reduced and nearly eliminated with
specific, symptom-specific strategies.
“When professional advice about chemo brain is provided,” Dr.
Hardwicke states, “it consists of a list of very general activities,
such as solving crossword puzzles, making ‘to do’ lists, and
engaging the support of family and friends.” Research
and practice from clinical neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience,
and nutraceuticals provide tools to recover from chemo brain. “In
a way similar to physical therapy for stroke victims, chemotherapy
patients can rewire their brains and feel more like themselves after
chemo brain,” Dr. Hardwicke added.
Dr. Hardwicke experienced and largely recovered from memory
impairment, speech difficulties, and decision-making as a result of
chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. The brain’s
characteristic of neurogenesis, which is the capacity to grow new
cells, as well as proper nutrition and mental exercise, can alleviate
many concerns from chemo brain.
For additional information on chemo brain, or to learn more about the
book, visit the company’s website at http://www.vabion.com/
Chemo_Brain.html.

“Chemo
Brain” Disturbing to Breast Cancer Patients

Highlights
from the Oncology Nursing Society’s 10th National Conference
on Cancer Nursing Research
Held February 12-14, 2009, Orlando, Fla

ORLANDO,
FLA—For the more than 2 million breast cancer survivors in
the United States, improved treatments have prolonged life
at the cost of some unpleasant side effects. Among them, the
cognitive changes known as “chemo brain” may be the most
upsetting.

“Cognitive
dysfunction is a significant problem,” affirmed Diane Von
Ah, PhD, RN, an assistant professor in adult health at the
Indiana University School of Nursing, estimating that the
problem affects up to 83% of breast cancer patients. “It’s
prevalent, bothersome to women, and can be potentially
debilitating and impact their quality of life.”

Dr Von Ah told meeting attendees that because the etiology
of cognitive dysfunction is not known, the condition is
difficult to treat. However, she suspects there are a number
of underlying factors, and researched the relationship
between serotonin and “chemo brain” based on the direct
relationship between the neurotransmitter and estrogen.
Estrogen withdrawal is a consequence of breast cancer
treatment.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
employed acute tryptophan depletion therapy. Because
tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, alterations in
tryptophan levels will affect serotonin. The intervention
group received a higher dose of an amino acid to deplete
tryptophan compared to the control group (100% vs 25%).
Participants completed neuropsychological testing 5 hours
after administration of the amino acid, at the tryptophan
nadir. Women in the intervention group were depleted 85% by
hour 5, and the control had a 49% reduction in tryptophan.
Twenty women completed the study.

“We did not find a significant impact on short-term
memory, but we did in long-term memory,” said Dr Von Ah.
The team also found changes in motor function in the
dominant and nondominant hands during the tryptophan
depletion, but no significant changes to attention,
concentration, executive function, or information processing
speed.

The responses did not vary for antiestrogen use,
antidepressant use, treatment protocols, or genetic factors.
There were no significant differences in mood or blood sugar
between the groups.

“In our study, we found that serotonin may be involved in
memory consolidation and psychomotor ability,” stated Dr
Von Ah. “We need to do further research to fully
understand the protective role of serotonin in cognitive
dysfunction, so we can do more with potentially novel
treatment therapies, either pharmacologically or
behaviorally through diet.”

Dr Von Ah presented a second study in which she investigated
self-reported cognitive dysfunction and quality of life in
African-American and Caucasian breast cancer survivors in a
descriptive, correlational study of secondary data from a
larger quality-of-life study. The sample included 134 women
(46% African American and 54% Caucasian) 1-10 years
postdiagnosis.

More than 1 in 4 survivors (26%) reported poor attention,
indicating that cognitive dysfunction can continue long
after treatment. Deficits in capacity to direct attention
correlated with poorer quality of life, including more
depressive symptoms, lower sense of overall wellbeing, less
social support, lower parental satisfaction, poorer physical
functioning, and greater fatigue. Younger women had more
attention problems, depression, and fatigue.
African-American women had decreased social support and
decreased levels of physical function. Women with increased
comorbidities had increased depression, increased fatigue,
and decreased well-being.

“Capacity to direct attention was related to poorer
quality-of-life outcomes, suggesting interventions may have
a broad impact on quality of life in breast cancer
survivors,” summarized Dr Von Ah.

Joyce Thielen, PhD, RN, CS, associate director of
undergraduate studies at Elms College in Chicopee, Mass,
said women undergoing breast cancer chemotherapy frequently
report changes in memory, executive function, organization,
and multitasking abilities, yet subjective testing often
does not correlate with the degree of severity patients are
indicating. She conducted a qualitative study to better
understand 13 women’s experiences and what it meant to them.
She found the cognitive changes often were insidious and the
women many times blamed them on menopause, lack of sleep, or
early Alzheimer’s disease.

“They looked inside for answers to the attention problems
they were having,” Dr Thielen explained.

The women reported an inability to read or to “keep their
eye on the ball,” or had trouble working. The women also
indicated difficulty driving or correctly taking
medications. Family support helped them cope. They reported
that nurses and doctors dismissed their cognitive
complaints.

“It’s important to discuss side effects with patients and
families,” Dr Thielen said. “The assessment needs to be
at time of initial treatment and ongoing to pick up subtle
changes that may develop.”

Dr Thielen also encouraged educating nursing students as
well as nurses about “chemo brain” and the inclusion of
neurocognitive measurements in clinical trials.

Preliminary results showed no significant changes in
immediate memory, language, attention, executive function,
and motor skills. However a significant effect of time was
found for visuospatial skill, attention, and delayed memory.
Significant changes in cognitive function remained when
researchers controlled for anxiety, depression, fatigue, and
hemoglobin levels.

Note

If you experience symptoms of chemobrain, I strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.

If you feel your medical team is not informed or supportive about chemobrain I urge you to refer them to this web site or seek out a provider among those listed who are actively engaged in the research and writing on this complex matter.